Apparatus for converting volatile hydrocarbons into fixed gas.



V H. E. SMITH. APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING VO L ATILH HYDROGARBONS INTO FIXED GAS.

- APPLIOATIQN FILED IULY 30, 1908.

928,076. N Patenfidkluly 13,1909. I 6

"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY F. SMITH, OF LEXINGTON, OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING VOLA'IILE HYDROCARBONSJNTO FIXED GASL Specification of'Letters Patent.

' Patented July 13, 1909.

Application filed July 30, 1908. Serial No. 446,153.

4 to obtain a fixed gas, and it consists in means for converting tar and volatile matters contained in coal, such for instance as bituminous coal, which are ordinarily condensable bysepa-rating the tar and volatile matters from the coal and thereby generating fixed as; I

The invention consists. in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown a view artly in section of my improved form of apparatus.

A represents theproducer, which is of the general type of producer furnaces, but which is adapted to carry a deep bed of fuel. Supported from the top ofthe producer and in the center of the furnace is a tubular receptacle 1, from which a pipe 2 extends through the side of the producer which carries the gas from the producer. A coupling 3 is connected to the pipe 2 and extending downwardly and connected to the coupling is a zig-zag pipe B for scrubbing and cool ing the gas. The gas as it passes from the furnace is subjected to a treatment of water and by the zig-zag formation of the pipe the gas is cooled. by coming into contact with the water and at the same time the coarse dirt is washed from the gas. A coupling t is connected to the pipe B and from this coupling a drain pipe 5 is connected, through which the dirty Water passes to the sewer or drain. Pipe (1 is connected to the coupling 4 and conveys the gas to a tar extractor D, which may be of any approved form. The tar and the Water associated with it are'extra'cted from the gas and the clean gas will pass out from the extractor through 'thepipe 6.

The tar and water will pass out of the expipe K and from this pipe it empties into a funnel M connected to a pipe 0, the pipe 0 leading into the producer at a sufficient height above the grate to discharge the tar of the separator, where it passes through ainto the mass of incandescent coke that-lies within the lower part of the producer, and

broken. up, being then decomposed in the fixed gases and discharged as such from the top of the producer. Any portion of the tar which might not be decomposed by this process is separated from the gas again by the tar extractor D and returned to the fife In the manner above explained. The tar is ad mitted to the furnace through the pipe 0 by the operation of a regulating valve 7 connected to the pipe K.

A pipe G is connected to the separator F,

which conveys the water from the separator to the coupling 8, to which the pipe is connected, and this water from the separator passes through the scrubber B for washing and cooling the gas, thereby using the same water twice, in the tar extractor and the scrubber. The fuel is blasted with air or air and steam continuously but means for accomplishing ,this is not shown, thus keeping the temperature ofthe fuel bed uniform, giving a continuous and proper operating temin contact with this hot coke the tar isperature. i

The gas and water are thrown from side to side by the zigzag scrubber B and in this way thoroughly mixed. The gas after being cooled is treated to a. second cleaning 'operation for removing the tar by the extractor D, where any condensable substances, such as tar, which are detrimental to the use of the gas are extracted. From this extractor clean gas is passed to the gas tanks or any suitable receptacles for use. The tar eie tract-ed from the gas togetherwith the water which may be associated with it, providing water is used in the tar extractor, will pass through the pipe to a separator where the tar and water are separated, the water pass ing from the separator to the scrubber and the tar to the furnace. I

By this system- I have provided means whereby the gas can be thoroughly cleaned and the tar and other condensable substances are conve ed to the furnace after provided for disposing of the tar, but also for increasing the producer efiiciency by convcrting into gas its thermal energy, and by this method the calorific intensity is also increased since the gas resulting from the decomposition oi the tar in contact with the hot. colic consists almost entirely of gas of high calorilic intensity, such as marsh gas and oletiant gas, and these constituents are very desirable in the producer gas-tor whatever purpose it may be employed.

The :ulvantages of this method are immediately apparent for the reason that in most instancesthe tar is disposed of s a by-product and is never converted into lixed gas in the producer. In many instances and under certain conditions the disposition of a t nant'ity of tar as a by-product in this way is a dillicult and expensive matter, and even could it be disposed of, it is on account of its high h :ating value much Ill'lUtU valuable as a gas producing agcnt'than as a hy-prodnet for other uses, and the manner of returning the tar to the producer as outlined not only makes a convenient way to dispose ot the tar, but increases the producer elliciency by converting the tar into gas.

llaving fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by .Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for converting volatile hydro-carbons into fixed gas which consists of a producer, a cooling and scrubbing means connected to the producer, an extractor connected to the cooling means for separating the gas and tar, a separator connected to the extractor for separating the tar from water and any foreign matter, and means for conveying the tar from the separator to the producer where it is converted into gas.

An apparatus for converting volatile l'iydro-carbons into fixed gas which consists in a producer, means connected to the producer for scrubbing and cooling the gas, an extractor connected to the cooling means for separating the tar and water from the gas, a separator connected to the extractor for separating the tar and water, means tor conveying the tar to the prodn-er and converting it into gas, and means for conducting the water from the separator to the scrubhing and cooling means.

I). An apparatus for converting volatile hydro-rarhons into fixed gas which consists in a producer, a pipe connected to the producer for conducting the from the producer, an extractor connected to the pipe tor separating the tar from the gas, a separator connected to the extractor for separating the tar and water, and means for conducting the vwater from the separator t0 the pipe connected to the producer for scrubbing and coolii'ig the gas.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

HARRY F. SMITH.

Vitnesses A. B. Bnvnas'roo1 R. B. I'lUNTER. 

